Whereas she travels; to the desert, to the mountains, to the trees, to the seas...

"Feral ~ from feminine of ferus wild: having escaped from domestication and become wild"...

Thursday

Farm Friday - Interview with a Saintly Foresterman

~

First of all, Mr. Foresterman, thank you for taking the time out for this interview, esp. since this is the busiest paperwork season for our Forestry Business! You ARE a Saint, you’ve saved my backside many times!

You're welcome.

Is this going to take long?

No, not at all!! Before we begin, is there anything you want to mention, say or warn the Blogging world about? Not about me specifically you know, just that…well…uhm … I… uhm … WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY?!??!

I married you because you like to do things; exploring, hiking, building, etc..

And you’re cute.

And I think your cute too, but don't harass the professional interview person... Moving on, when did you realize that you really wanted to marry a single mom with daughters and horses? Because you certainly were persistent for someone who got kicked out of my apartment the first go 'round when you asked...only because I thought it was a pity sing-song request “oh leets feel sorry for the poor feral woman alone in the world -lets make her feeeel better” proposal…I was kinda wrong… …okay FINE, I was wrong… Anyhow, lets rephrase the question and ask, why were you persistent? What were you thinking?

After almost 20 years of looking I knew the right woman when I saw her...

Beyond that I don’t remember what I was thinking; I do know I can be stubborn, not just persistent.

Well good thing that you didnt listen to me! And you became a Dad to two beautiful daughters too – they were 5 & 7 when we first met, 9 & 11 when we married. And if you factor in that I was 36 going on 6…that makes for a pretty full plate. So how has becoming a Dad and Husband changed your life besides your savings account, worry levels, and sleep patterns?

Hmm, we can change that...Okay, here’s a good question for those industrious entrepreneurs who might be compelled to start a business with a loved one ~ If you could give only one piece of advice to that person who is considering sharing a career/business with their spouse, what would that be?

Specifically discuss and determine what your roles will be, initially, periodically or continually.

Ooooo, good answer!...Do we do that? I wanna do that with donuts next week and role play...

Hey, we have made some very big changes these last few years…How has moving from Wisconsin to Montana affected you, besides your savings account, worry levels and sleep patterns?

Though I would not have been creative enough to think of it (moving to Montana) on my own, I’ve been preparing for this move for a couple decades. Long ago I was asking myself, “ What can I do for employment that would be as fun as my current job as State Forester but more flexible?”

As for the other items: I don’t worry, I plan...or "scheme" as some people call it. As I said before I tend not to lose sleep too easily. Regarding the savings account, if we ultimately spend more than we earn we’ll simply move to a smaller place. Down sizing is very fashionable.

Fashionable?? Really? Hmmmmmm... ... ... Wait a second here Mister!!! I think youre scheming again!! Now lets get serious here and talk about your innermost feelings, since that’s what Foresters do best *cough- cough* - What has been the best achievement in your career as a Forester, and what was the worst incident that you learned from?

Forestry is not like a football game where you savor scoring the winning touchdown in the big game. Rather, it’s very gratifying to visit a forest that you’ve helped shape by implementing a timber harvest or an improvement project. The result of one’s effort literally grows year after year. I enjoyed this in managing our own forest land and in working with some individuals for over 25 years. It’s fun for a forester to grow old as long as he can still get out in the woods!

I can’t really point to a “worst” incident that I learned from. Forestry work, like life in general, comes with its occasional stumbling blocksand nuisances and they all provide their lessons but the difficulties don’t really stand out to me. A few things I did learn; You know that one concern that’s gnawing at you and making your life miserable? Nine times out of ten it will it be gone in a year or two if not a day or two. Facing your trouble head on, while we most always don’t want to it, is a lot easier than simply hoping it will go away. Chuck Swindoll had it right: Attitude is everything.

It will color everything we do; work, play, relationships, you name it.

Whoa...Daaarn youre good...Okay, lets apply that question to your personal life - What was the best achievement in your personal life, and what was the worst incident that you learned from?

I don’t know if achievement is the right term, but one of the best decisions I ever made was marrying you. Few, if any, decisions will affect our life more than our choice of a spouse. And part of making the right choice is making it the right choice. That’s a continual thing.

*Feral Woman begins to sniffle unprofessionally*

Again, I can’t think of a “worst” incident, probably in part because I’ve been very fortunate. I do think it’s important to learn from all the little stuff because, guess what, lot’s of little stuff happens!

Sniff..sniffle..Hey?! Hey hey here ~ Little stuff?!? This interview really needs to focus on you honey, not me, okay?...Anyhow, you have spent time in some very isolated spots in the world for a reason, as you are a Forester after all. SO where does a Forester go to get away from it all? What destination has been the farthest place from home that you ever traveled to? And what did you take away from that experience?

Once upon a time I traveled to Nepal with my sister. We took a three week hike - trek as they call it - to Mt. Everest National Park. Once during that time we met a man riding a horse, otherwise everyone was on foot. We had the same rice dish -"dal bhat"- for three weeks straight. It was my kind of place - no internal combustion engines! A couple things I observed: Life there - 1988 rural Nepal - had a lot of things in common with Mid 19th century rural America at that time. And You can find a wilderness almost anywhere, one morning wandering off the tourist track in Bangkok - a layover - convinced me of that!

That must have been such an eye-opening lifetime experience traveling to Nepal! Speaking of your sister - one of your seven siblings - reminds me that you were actually a young child once...so what was your favorite childhood memory?

Wow, I have boatloads of them!

Fishing at Esser’s Creek - an 8” creek chub was a good catch; evening bon fires at the neighbors; “camping” overnight in the backyard many a night. We would walk down the railroad tracks just to see where they went; first it was a couple miles, then three, then eight. Eventually we hiked about 25 miles to where a friend’s grown up sister lived; we caught a ride back. Rustic winter picnics were also a lot of fun ~ one guy would make the fire, the other would build the shelter and we’d all cook the food. For being in the ‘burbs we found a lot of fun woodsy things to do. And this was just sixth grade. I was very blessed to grow up where and when I did...

Sooo...

Boxers or briefs?

*Mr. Foresterman stares that stare*

Okay, fine, that wasn’t a question…its just that you know we’re behind in laundry and I was wondering which you wanted washed first if I started a load…..

But hey~

Do you know that I love you immensely and fiercely?

To defend you and our love to the ends of the earth like a Badger?

A short stout bouncy Badger?

But with a handbag. a really nice one.

Yes..

Yes, I do.

*Mr. Foresterman's smiling, bigtime...*

So thus concludes our interview with Mr. Foresterman.

Now you know why

he TRULY is

A

SAINT!

27 comments:

Very very sweet! Did you know my husband's degree is in forestry...as soon as he graduated they wanted to send him to New York behind a desk...he was having none of that and so he started building houses just like what his dad...which is what he wanted to do all along! Funny how things work out...we are both lucky girls!

Wonderfulness. That one photo of Mr. Foresterman standing with the fence post with your dog in the background made me swoon a bit (blue jeans, hat, rusticness and all), then the next one of his butt made laugh out loud! :)

You two deserve each other - and I mean that in the nicest, sweetest, lovingest way. God has blessed you both. Wonderful interview, girlie.

Aint for city gals ~ If he ever wants to retire from construction, the forestry world sure could use him!

Texwigirl~ you made my forester blush and say "oh geez..." lol and yes, our friends agree - we are like salt and pepper - so different, but somehow it works lol!

And hey, thanks for the photo compliments everyone! But I have a secret ~ can you tell I have a new camera? I have been trying to learn how to use all of its features (its a Lumix GH-2)when we get out and about - but now i have to be careful in the reports that I am doing for work that I dont insert "camera lingo" that my brain is trying to comprehend in the book I have on my desk - I dont multi-task as well as I use to lol !

Don't know how I missed the b*tt shot. Guess I was so intrigued with the interview that one slipped by. Then I had to scroll all the way back up to find it. It was worth it. Nice shots all around and fun interview. You got more words out of him than I'd get outta my man. LOL

I love your posts they always surprise me. Sounds like you and Mr. Forester have the real deal and I am so happy for you. He sounds like a real stand up wonderful man.His attitude on life is great, I think he gets that from coming from a large family I know that one by experience. Your photos are wonderful. Be happy oh never mind I can tell you are extremely happy. B

I am feral, so although I dont respond at all like most domesticated bloggers, I will try my best - Thank you for even wanting to leave a comment, as it may draw me out from the woods from whence I came!